Curvature potential unveiled topological defect attractors

Mesarec, Luka (author), Iglič, Aleš (author), Kralj-Iglič, Veronika (author), Góźdź, Wojciech (author), Virga, Epifanio Giovanni (author), Kralj, Samo (author)

We consider the theoretical and positional assembling of topological defects (TDs) in effectively two-dimensional nematic liquid crystal films. We use a phenomenological Helfrich– Landau–de Gennes-type mesoscopic model in which geometric shapes and nematic orientational order are expressed in terms of a curvature tensor field and a nematic tensor order parameter field. Extrinsic, intrinsic, and total curvature potentials are introduced using the parallel transport concept. These potentials reveal curvature seeded TD attractors. To test ground configurations, we used axially symmetric nematic films exhibiting spherical topology.

• Language: English
• Keywords: topological defects, nematic liquid crystals, nematic shells, geometric potentials, curvature
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering; ZF - University College of Health Studies
• Publication status in journal: Published
• Article version: Publisher's version of article
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 16 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 5, art. 539
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135428
• UDC: 548/549
• ISSN on article: 2073-4352
• DOI: 10.3390/cryst11050539
• COBISS.SI-ID: 63076611
• Publication date in RUL: 14.03.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Crystals
• Shortened title: Crystals
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4352
• COBISS.SI-ID: 36677893

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 12.05.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: topološki defekti, nematski tekoči kristali, nematične lupine, geometrijski potenciali, ukrivljenost